Did you know that immigrants account for more than 10% of Georgia’s population? And that percentage is rapidly increasing. As immigration attorneys, the topic of immigration is close to our hearts. In fact, for most of our lawyers and staff members, immigration is an integral part of our family story and personal heritage. That being said, we’re going to take a look at some facts on immigration in Georgia. These numbers are selected and compiled from the American Immigration Council’s comprehensive website.
General Population Stats
One in ten Georgia residents is an immigrant, while nearly 8% of residents are native-born U.S. citizens who have at least one immigrant parent.
- In 2015, 1 million immigrants (foreign-born individuals) comprised 10 percent of the state’s population.
- Georgia was home to 473,617 women, 480,242 men, and 69,858 children who were immigrants.
- The top countries of origin for immigrants were Mexico (25.7% of immigrants), India (8.6%), Korea (4.1%), Vietnam (3.5%), and Jamaica (3.2%).
Immigrants and Naturalization
More than two in five immigrants in Georgia are naturalized U.S. citizens.
- 428,570 immigrants (41.9 percent) had naturalized as of 2015, and 174,413 immigrants were eligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens in 2015.
DACA Recipients
Nearly 22,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients live in Georgia.
- As of 2016, 60 percent of DACA-eligible immigrants in Georgia, or 28,589 people, had applied for DACA.
- An additional 17,000 residents of the state satisfied all but the educational requirements for DACA, and another 8,000 would be eligible as they grew older.
Immigrants in Georgia’s Economy
Nearly one in seven workers in Georgia is an immigrant, together making up a critical share of the labor force across industries.
- 684,887 immigrant workers comprised 13.8 percent of the labor force in 2015.
Nearly one in five self-employed business owners in Georgia is an immigrant.
- 90,458 immigrant business owners accounted for 18.3 percent of all self-employed Georgia residents in 2015 and generated $1.8 billion in business income.
We are proud to be part of a great state with a rapidly increasing immigrant population. We believe in the American Dream and in helping families achieve it. Please reach out to Castan & Lecca if you are looking to take the next steps in your immigration story.
